We have had a relatively bully-free time for quite awhile and I guess we pretty much felt like things were under control. Andrew was acting happy and 'normal'...and you could tell that he really felt good.
Then last week, he came home from school and walked in the door and was screaming at me and Thomas (who was also home). He eventually fell onto the sofa sobbing and the story spilled out. He had worn sweatpants and during art had put his hand in his pocket. One of the kids in his class said "oooh, gross, andrew put his hands down his pants and touched himself <graphic description leftout>" and about 1/2 the class started in.
The art teacher didn't know what happened, but just ended up writing all of the kids up for acting up without finding out the details. He was in a word....devastated...and blamed himself with a "why did I put my hand in my pocket..I could have had a good day, but NO, I HAD to put my hand in my pocket". When I asked him if it was possible if he had 'accidentally' put his hand in his pants, he started screaming "what do you think I am, a pervert?" and sobbing again.
So...I called the art teacher who pretty much told me that kids are mean to each other and need to learn to handle it...though she did call his teacher and repot the incident to him as well.
I'm pretty much beside myself about all of this...I just don't know how to help anymore and I have become short-tempered and frustrated with Andrew even though I know it isn't his fault. He can just be so akward though and I know that the kids pick him out as a target because of it.
Amanda told me that when she goes to pick him up after school the kids are often teasing him and sometimes he just really doesn't realize that they are making fun of him and not being friendly.
She also told me that she sits alone at recess every day because her friends won't play with her/include her if the big group of girls is playing. She is affectionately dubbed 'reading freak' by her classmates because she literally always has a book in her hand...and I'm sure that reading at recess doesn't help.
I feel like I've had it and yet so many parents basically say "teasing is a part of life"....Do I just...accept this and keep sending my kids to the schools here? What the heck should I do?
kris
Then last week, he came home from school and walked in the door and was screaming at me and Thomas (who was also home). He eventually fell onto the sofa sobbing and the story spilled out. He had worn sweatpants and during art had put his hand in his pocket. One of the kids in his class said "oooh, gross, andrew put his hands down his pants and touched himself <graphic description leftout>" and about 1/2 the class started in.
The art teacher didn't know what happened, but just ended up writing all of the kids up for acting up without finding out the details. He was in a word....devastated...and blamed himself with a "why did I put my hand in my pocket..I could have had a good day, but NO, I HAD to put my hand in my pocket". When I asked him if it was possible if he had 'accidentally' put his hand in his pants, he started screaming "what do you think I am, a pervert?" and sobbing again.
So...I called the art teacher who pretty much told me that kids are mean to each other and need to learn to handle it...though she did call his teacher and repot the incident to him as well.
I'm pretty much beside myself about all of this...I just don't know how to help anymore and I have become short-tempered and frustrated with Andrew even though I know it isn't his fault. He can just be so akward though and I know that the kids pick him out as a target because of it.
Amanda told me that when she goes to pick him up after school the kids are often teasing him and sometimes he just really doesn't realize that they are making fun of him and not being friendly.
She also told me that she sits alone at recess every day because her friends won't play with her/include her if the big group of girls is playing. She is affectionately dubbed 'reading freak' by her classmates because she literally always has a book in her hand...and I'm sure that reading at recess doesn't help.
I feel like I've had it and yet so many parents basically say "teasing is a part of life"....Do I just...accept this and keep sending my kids to the schools here? What the heck should I do?
kris
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